By Evan Giddings, Student Assistant Athletics Communications Director

SALEM, ORE. -- This weekend, the Willamette University women's tennis team will host the Whitworth University Pirates in its first Northwest Conference home match of the season. The match is set for Saturday, Feb. 28 at the Courthouse Tennis Center. Start time is scheduled for 10 a.m. (PST).

Two weeks into the spring season, the Bearcats are 0-2 overall and 0-1 in conference play. The NWC loss came last week at the hands of Lewis & Clark College, which bested Willamette 9-0 in Portland, Ore., on Feb. 20.

Attempting to rebound this weekend, WU will be led by Denise Poltavski (Sr., Woodland Hills, CA/El Camino Real HS) and Mikaila Smith (Fr., Mill Valley, CA/Tamalpais HS), who play #1 and #2 singles, respectively. They also team up to play #1 doubles.

The next two spots for Willamette in the singles lineup will likely be filled by Ellen Rumley (Fr., Anchorage, AK/East Anchorage HS) and Alicia Sohn (So., Tustin, Calif./Arnold O. Beckham HS). Rumley played #3 and Sohn competed at #4 singles against Lewis & Clark. They also played #2 doubles together.

Emily Guimont (Jr., El Dorado Hills, CA/Folsom HS) and Katie Adams(Fr., McLean, VA/American International School) will probably fill out the #5 and #6 singles positions. They also competed as the #3 doubles team against the Pioneers.

The Pirates hold a 2-1 overall record and a 2-2 conference record prior to the weekend. They won two matches last weekend by identical scores of 7-2 against Pacific University and George Fox University.

Whitworth's top player is Taylor Pea (Jr.), who will play #1 singles and #1 doubles. She is winless so far this season.

Saryn Mooney (Sr.) has played #2 singles, followed by Bella Hoyos (So.), Jennifer Adams (Fr.), Morgan McDivitt (Sr.), and Caylee Lamm (Jr.) who have rounded out the remaining singles spots.

Adams will likely partner with Pea in #1 doubles. Hoyos and McDivitt are the probable #2 doubles team, while Mooney and Lamm will likely team up to play #3 doubles.